The International Fire Service Training Association has announced the winners of its 2022 awards for contributions to fire service training, as well as its new executive board chair for the next three years.
Chief Tonya Hoover Receives 2022 Everett E. Hudiburg Award
Tonya Hoover, deputy U.S. Fire Administrator and past IFSTA Executive Board member, was awarded the Everett E. Hudiburg Memorial Award during the International Fire Service Training Association’s 89th Annual Validation Conference in July 2022.
Chief Hoover is an expert executive and has worked at high levels of government in developing and implementing fire protection, fire prevention, fire training and community risk reduction programs. At the age of 16, she started her career in the fire service by obtaining her EMT certification. In 2006, she received her MBA in Business and Human Resources from the University of Phoenix, as well as a Bachelor of Technical Education, specializing in Fire Protection and Safety from Oklahoma State University in 1985. Also, she has an associate degree in Fire Protection Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University and a lifetime teaching credential for fire science in California.
Chief Hoover served as the California state fire marshal from July 2009 to July 2016. During her time there, she was responsible for statewide fire prevention, fire service training, pipeline safety, code and regulations development, and analysis and implementation. From May 2017 to January 2020, she served as the superintendent of the USFA’s NFA.
In January 2020, Chief Hoover was appointed as the deputy U.S. Fire Administrator.
The Everett E. Hudiburg Award is the highest honor IFSTA may bestow to an individual who has made significant contributions to the training of firefighters.
Cindy Brakhage Receives the Marvin L. Austin Award
Cindy Brakhage, retired Fire Protection Publications senior editor, was awarded the Marvin L. Austin Distinguished Leadership Award during the International Fire Service Training Association’s 89th Annual Validation Conference on July 9, 2022.
Cindy began her career as an editor at FPP in 1982 and retired in August 2021. During those years, she served as the staff liaison/project editor to dozens of IFSTA validation committees, edited and prepared chapters to go into the final layout process and proofed final layouts for many manuals. Also, she assisted with the Speaking of Fire newsletter, catalogs and other marketing materials. Cindy improved the content in many manuals throughout her career.
Cindy was an important role model for her fellow co-workers throughout her time at FPP. She was a teacher, mentor and advisor to other editors and staff members.
The Marvin L. Austin Distinguished Leadership Award is presented by FPP staff in recognition of the recipient’s exceptional leadership efforts in connection with the IFSTA Validation Conference.
Dr. Kenny Fent Receives 2022 Dr. John Granito Award
Dr. Kenny Fent, research industrial hygienist at NIOSH and commander in the U.S. Public Health Service, was awarded the Dr. John Granito Award for Excellence in Fire Leadership and Management Research during the International Fire Service Journal of Management and Leadership’s Research Symposium held in conjunction with the 89th Annual IFSTA Validation Conference on July 9, 2022.
Dr. Fent received his master’s degree and PhD in Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Now, he is working as a research industrial hygienist at NIOSH and is a Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service. Since becoming a member of the rapid deployment team, Dr. Fent has responded to many emergency events, such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Additionally, he has published more than 45 technical reports and journal articles.
Currently, he is focusing his research on assessing dermal and inhalation exposures to combustion byproducts in firefighters. Also, Dr. Fent is involved in a comprehensive study of cardiovascular and carcinogenic risks during firefighting.
The Dr. John Granito Award for Excellence in Fire Leadership and Management Research is presented by FPP staff in recognition of the recipient’s contributions to the fire service and academia. Each year, the recipient of this distinguished award presents the keynote address at the annual International Fire Service Journal of Leadership and Management Research Symposium held in conjunction with the IFSTA Validation Conference.
Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell Receives 2022 John W. Hoglund Award
Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator and past IFSTA Executive Board member, was awarded the John W. Hoglund Award during the International Fire Service Training Association’s 89th Annual Validation Conference in July 2022.
Dr. Moore-Merrell is an international speaker, presenter and author. She began her fire service career in 1987 as a paramedic for the City of Memphis Fire Department in Memphis, Tennessee. Then, she served as a senior executive at the International Association for Fire Fighters for 26 years. During her time with IAFF, she assisted members by providing emergency response evaluations, public safety resource deployment analysis, community risk assessments, data collection and analysis and strategic planning. In 2019, Dr. Moore-Merrell founded the International Public Safety Data Institute with the help from a small group of fire service professionals and leaders. The IPSDI procures, assembles, analyzes and reports information from fire, rescue and law enforcement data.
Dr. Moore-Merrell was appointed as the U.S. Fire Administrator on October 25, 2021 by President Joe Biden.
She has also been awarded the James O. Page Achievement Award, the IAFC President’s Award twice, the Dr. John Granito Award for Excellence in Fire Leadership and Management Research, the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs President’s Award of Distinction, the Mason Lankford Award and the Homeland Security Today Mission Award.
The John W. Hoglund Award is presented by the IFSTA Executive Board to an individual who has exhibited outstanding leadership and service to the board and IFSTA during their tenure.
Chief Mary Cameli Elected IFSTA Executive Board Chair
Mary Cameli, Mesa Fire and Medical Department Fire Chief, Phoenix, Arizona; was elected as the International Fire Service Training Association Executive Board Chair during IFSTA’s 89th Annual Validation Conference on July 9, 2022. Chief Cameli is IFSTA’s first female executive board chair and will serve a three-year term.
Chief Cameli began her career at MFMD in 1983 after she finished college where she received a Bachelor’s of Art degree in Elementary and Physical Education, as well as a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management.
She was one of the first females hired at MFMD and has worked her way through the ranks to her current position as fire chief. Chief Cameli has earned recognition by spearheading the MFMD program that is a gold standard example of Integrated Community Health Care. She was also named the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association Fire Chief of the Year in 2021.
Chief Cameli is the Vice President of the Center for Public Safety Excellence Board, President of the Community Bridges Board, past president of the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association, past chair of the Child Crisis Arizona Board and past president of the Mesa Sunrise Rotary among others.
Cameli joins 14 other board members in leading the organization: Vice-Chair Josh Stefancic, Safety Harbor Fire Chief, Safety Harbor, Florida; Mike Wieder, IFSTA Executive Director, Stillwater, Oklahoma; Steve Ashbrock, retired Madeira & Indian Hill Joint Fire District Fire Chief, Cincinnati, Ohio; Thomas Breyer, International Association of Fire Fighters Assistant to the General President, Washington, D.C.; Bradd Clark, Palm Coast Deputy Fire Chief, Palm Coast, Florida; Dr. Larry Collins, retired Associate Dean of the School of Safety, Security & Emergency Management at Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky; Tom Jenkins, Rogers Fire Chief, Rogers, Arkansas; Dr. Scott Kerwood, Hutto Fire Rescue Fire Chief, Hutto, Texas; Wes Kitchel, retired Cloverdale Fire Protection District Chief of Operations, Gardnerville, Nevada; Jonathan Lund, Des Moines Fire Marshal, Des Moines, Iowa; Dr. Dan Madrzykowski, UL Fire Safety Research Institute Director of Research, Columbia, Maryland; Jeffrey Morrissette, Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Commission on Fire Prevention & Control State Fire Administrator, Windsor Locks, Connecticut; Dr. Denis Onieal, former United States Fire Administration Deputy Director, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Dan Ripley, Lincoln Fire and Rescue Captain, Lincoln, Nebraska; and Dr. Demond Simmons, Oakland Chief of Training, Oakland, California.
Duties of the Board include establishing policies and projects, approving scope and purpose statements, approving titles for new and revised training materials, advising Fire Protection Publications on pertinent matters, as well as maintaining external relations with other organizations.
Written By: Kallie Coakley | FPP Marketing Student Intern
The International Fire Service Training Association is an organization of fire service personnel who are dedicated to upgrading firefighting techniques and safety through training. Since 1934, IFSTA has been the worldwide leader of the fire service in developing fire and emergency responder training materials. IFSTA produces training manuals, eBooks, curriculum, test prep, workbooks, skill sheets, interactive courses, instructor resources and more. For IFSTA-FPP media inquiries, contact Marketing Coordinator Erin Portman at erinfl@osufpp.org or call 800-654-4055.
